Immunotherapy Treatment Results

Obviously I've been putting off updating the blog. I wasn't sure how to convey the latest news to others, primarily because it took me some time to process it and figure out how I was going to let it affect me going forward.

The immunotherapy treatments didn't work. On March 1^st I had a new MRI that revealed a new tumor in my left buttock. The other four tumors were stable or slightly larger than they were three months ago. Of course I'm disappointed but not surprised. The success rate is only about five percent, but the slight chance of being cured made the two hospital stays and feeling poor for a few days seem worthwhile. C'est la vie.
So I have renal cancer and it is not going away. Dr. Harris still feels it is treatable with drugs. I recently started taking a low dose of Votrient tablets. If it does not start damaging my liver, I will continue to take it and increase the dosage. It basically shrinks blood vessels which can shrink or decrease the growth of the tumors. As a reward for taking it, my hair will likely turn white and skin will become more pale.
I do want to thank everyone for being so supportive to Sheryl and I. We are on countless prayer lists and appreciate the offers for and provided help, but we must all understand that sometimes it is not in God's plan for us to be cured from an affliction.
My primary goals are to selfishly continue to do the things that I enjoy, such as dining out (my appetite is exceptional), playing poker (I accept all challenges), working my businesses when I can, spending time with family and friends, hanging out with Sheryl, and preparing for the future. I will continue to fight the disease, but it will be difficult for me to participate in a treatment that significantly interferes with these activities.

Dealing with Moderate Pain

My most pressing struggle has been the pain in my left leg. It began in mid-January and is constant except when I lay down. A tumor in my spine is pressing on some nerves that extend down my leg. The pain is worst when I walk any distance, or walk at all after sitting for a long period of time (such as at a poker game). My oncologist (Dr. Harris) doesn't specialize in pain management, so he referred me the Emory Pain Clinic. I tried some nerve medication, but it or the hydrocodone had no effect. In an outpatient procedure, a doctor injected my back with an anti-inflammatory and numbing cocktail, but it didn't do anything either. Since then, the staff at the Emory Pain Clinic wont even return my calls anymore.
My father-in-law David brought me his scooter. I used it recently on a weekend trip to Tunica for a poker tournament. It was a great help because there would be no chance I could walk from the hotel room to the poker room.